

If you've ever wanted to see what #BlackBoyJoy looks like in the flesh, look no further than model and actor Broderick Hunter.
One scroll down his Twitter and Insta feed will not only have you craving chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it will leave you refreshed by his authenticity, humility, and humor. With a career that boasts walking runways and securing campaigns for some of fashion's biggest names, to starring in hit shows on television, Broderick is definitely one to watch for.
Back in Cali and fresh off a flight from New York, he is at ease and light-hearted in our meeting. It didn't take long for the conversation to smoothly transition from a formal interview to a talk between old friends. We converse and banter as if we've known each other for years and it's immediately clear to see why he's maintained longevity in his career and in the industry. Broderick is genuine and purposeful in everything he says and does. He doesn't hold back or spare the truth. He's true to himself, no matter what it looks like or how it may come off to others, something he says he's mastered seemingly since birth.
"I've always been a real organic type of person. I've never tried to put up facades. I don't like to tell people what they want to hear. I've always been a real person, that's just how I've been my entire life," he explained. "When my career started going and I got into modeling, it just kind of translated into that. It just never really changed. When people gravitate towards me, they always say how carefree and wild I am so I try to carry that over into my regular life and my 'celebrity' life."
Broderick Hunter/Instagram
And while others may feel the need to alter their personality once they've reached a certain level of success, Broderick definitely knows better. The 6'2'' Cali native has learned a thing or two about keeping his self-worth in tact. He knows that it's not just what you do in this world that matters, but who you are and who you become in the process. Being in the industry for almost 10 years, he's fully aware of how important it is to keep your character and integrity intact.
"I'm not a product of what I do and my success, I'm a product of the type of person I am. My parents have always taught me to just be a good person, you know? You could be flat broke but if you're a good person, you'll always have love and support. So I always lead with that foot first. Sometimes I feel, in this industry, people don't really know how to separate what they do from who they are."
"I'm not a product of what I do and my success, I'm a product of the type of person I am."
"We're in an era of microwave success now where a lot of great things are happening to people very quickly. You can upload a video tomorrow and then any of these major pop stars can come up on it and next thing you know, you're walking the red carpet at the VMAs. That's how quick things can happen."
Though he's definitely not mad at newcomers who have forged their way into the spotlight, he understands that the rules of the game have changed. He warns however, that while social media can aid in your success, it can also make you miss steps that help build and keep you grounded when you go through the trenches, which is something he knows firsthand. Broderick's journey was one that was met with rejection and resistance early on. In another interview with Bold TV, he makes mention of the fact that various industry insiders were very apprehensive in considering him for campaigns and shows. They cited his athletic build, his dark skin, and the fact that he was a black male as reasons why he wouldn't be a good fit.
Looking back, he sees that ultimately it all worked out for the better as he has been able to continuously amass a great level of success despite the naysayers. Nowadays, he likes to use his social media platforms as a tool to engage with his followers and fans, something that he says is done on purpose.
"I have to use social media now to bring my brand to where it is, but it's a tool for me. Social media is a tool not lifeline for me. I'm all for the way the industry is going now, it's a lot more entertaining. You're able to get an idea of who people are before you ever meet them," he said. "That's not to say that's EXACTLY who they are but you can gauge their personality from what they post and everything. I really feel like opening up and being personable with people has really helped my brand get to where it is. It allows people to know that I'm a real person, I'm a regular person."
And personable he is. The minute you find yourself on Broderick's Twitter page, you become instantly intrigued and invested in his interactions with women and you may find yourself getting gassed up by him on anything from your edges to your melanin to your makeup. That's because for him, championing and hyping up black women specifically is something he stans for. Early on before modeling and acting caught his eye, the black women in his life had it first. He credits everything he's learned to black women, from hair-care, skin-care, self-care, and the like.
He says that he realized the value they brought into his life at a young age and made it a point to uplift, revere, and adore black women openly and without shame. And in an industry that likes to celebrate features akin to ours and not us, he believes that it's not only important but very necessary.
"I've always campaigned for black women because I saw early on the value that they had, not only in my life but the value they brought to the world. As I started to grow up and through my basketball stages and everything, I value and appreciate all women, but black women were always important to me. I've seen how they've helped me grow and the things that they've taught me. Everything I know, I've learned from black women."
"Everything I know, I've learned from black women."
He continued, "In my career, I started to see how devalued the black woman was and how much they were not celebrated the way I celebrated them. So I made it a point to always campaign for what I believe in and I've always believed in the rights, the love, and the information that a black woman has to offer. I really push for that because I want people to have the same experience I had and see the things I see in black women and what they can do. So, when I got to the point in my career where I felt like I really had a voice that would echo, I made it a point to love and support black women. I love to gas my sisters."
And it's pretty safe to say that his sisters love him. Amidst crazy comments and DMs from those who try to do the absolute most vying for his attention, when it comes to dating he says all he's really looking for is someone who knows how to hold their own. A humble woman who is secure in herself and has things going for herself. Someone who's not looking to attach themselves to him for clout's sake, but someone who's interested in building together.
"Obviously looks attract but when it comes to dating I look for reciprocity. Beauty doesn't impress me anymore. I look for inner qualities like how she was raised, how she treats other people, and if she has fashion sense because I don't mind my girl dressing me. And if she can throw down in the kitchen that's a plus too."
All I have to say is, where do I sign up?
For more on Broderick, keep up with him on Instagram.
Featured image by Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com
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Writer. Empath. Escapist. Young, gifted, and Black. Shanelle Genai is a proud Southern girl in a serious relationship with celebrity interviews, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and long walks down Sephora aisles. Keep up with her on IG @shanellegenai.
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams has always marched to the beat of her own brutally honest drum — and that’s exactly what makes her so magnetic to watch. Whether she’s making us laugh until we cry on The Ms. Pat Show or now laying down the law on her courtroom series Ms. Pat Settles It, the comedian-turned-judge proves time and again that there’s nobody quite like her. Unfiltered, hilarious, and real to the core, she’s made a name for herself by turning her life’s journey — including the pain — into purpose.
Now in her second season of Ms. Pat Settles It, airing on BET and BET+, she’s not only delivering verdicts — she’s dishing out life lessons in between the laughs. The show feels less like your typical courtroom drama and more like your outspoken auntie running a court session at the family cookout, complete with celebrity jurors, petty disputes, and a whole lot of real talk. xoNecole sat down with Ms. Pat to talk about her wildest cases, balancing motherhood and fame, and why sleeping in separate bedrooms might just be the key to joy.
CASE CLOSED, BUT MAKE IT CHAOS
If you’ve ever tuned in to Ms. Pat Settles It, you already know the episode titles alone deserve awards. But when we asked Ms. Pat which case stood out most, she didn’t even have to think twice. “There was this one woman — Shay — who got out of federal prison and was working for her old bunkmate. But the bunkmate didn’t want to pay her!” she says, chuckling. “That girl came in the courtroom like a firecracker.”
It’s moments like those that remind viewers Ms. Pat isn’t just bringing the laughs — she’s giving people a platform, even if it’s a little messy. And if her court ever gets turned into a real-life franchise, we need Shay on the promo posters immediately.
WHEN THE CELEBS SHOW OUT
It’s already hard enough to get a word in with Ms. Pat running the show, but throw in a celebrity jury featuring Tamar Braxton, Ray J, TS Madison, and Karlous Miller? Whew. “I don’t even try to control them,” she laughs. “Thank God we have something called editing.” According to her, behind the scenes, things get wild — but that chaos is part of the magic. “People only see the cut-down version. What you don’t see is all of us losing it in real time.”
Still, Ms. Pat makes it work. The courtroom becomes a stage, but also a safe space for guests and jurors to show up as their full, unfiltered selves. “It was a wild season,” she explains. Let’s be honest — if your jury looks like a BET Awards afterparty, you might as well let it rock.
IF FAMILY COURT WAS REALLY A THING
Ms. Pat might wear the robe on screen, but at home, she’s still managing her own wild bunch. When asked what kind of case her kids would bring into her courtroom, she burst into laughter. “Oh, they’d be suing my oldest son for eating their food,” she says. “You know how you have that one roommate that eats up everybody’s food? I can see my oldest son getting sued for that..”
And let’s face it, we’ve all either been that sibling or have one. Ms. Pat says moments like that — the everyday family squabbles and real-life irritations — are what make her courtroom show so relatable.
THE VERDICT SHE WISHES SHE COULD REWRITE
Ms. Pat is known for keeping it real, even when the conversation turns serious. When asked if there was one “verdict” in her real life she’d change, she pauses for a second before answering. “I wish I had graduated high school,” she admits. “All my kids went to prom and I took all of their high school diplomas.”
“I wish I had graduated high school,” she admits. “All my kids went to prom and I took all of their high school diplomas.”
It’s a rite of passage in most Black households — your diploma doesn’t really belong to you, it lives at your mama or grandma’s house like a family heirloom.
HOW SHE STAYS GROUNDED
Between filming TV shows, headlining comedy tours, and running a household, Ms. Pat makes it very clear: she will find time to rest. “People swear I don’t sleep, but I do — I just knock out early and wake up early,” she shares. “And sometimes, I’ll just sit in my car.” She’s also a big fan of solo naps and mini getaways when things get overwhelming.
But one of her favorite forms of self-care? Separate bedrooms. “Me and my husband don’t sleep in the same room. That way, when I don’t feel like being bothered, I go to my space,” she laughs. She’s also found a new love for facials. “They’re addicting! I don’t need a lot — just sleep, a facial, and a little quiet.” Honestly? That’s a self-care routine we can get behind.
FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE
Ms. Pat’s story is one that’s deeply rooted in resilience — and she’s always been transparent about how her journey shaped her. Her advice to other Black women trying to turn their pain into purpose? Speak up. “You have to tell your story,” she says. “Because once you tell your story, you realize you’re not the only person that’s been through that situation.”
She adds that sharing your truth can be one of the most powerful things you do. “When you give a voice to pain so many other people who have that pain gravitate to you,” she says. “To heal, you have to speak out loud about it. What you keep inside is what eats you up.” Coming from someone who built an entire brand on truth-telling? We believe her.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR MS. PAT?
While Ms. Pat’s got her hands full with Ms. Pat Settles It and her comedy show, she hints there’s much more to come. “I got some stuff poppin’ that I can’t even talk about yet,” she teases. “But just know, like Kendrick [Lamar] said, we about to step out and show ‘em something.” That multi-genre deal with BET and Paramount is clearly working in her favor — and she’s not slowing down anytime soon.
She says one of her proudest moments in this chapter of her career is seeing things she once dreamed of finally come to life. “In this business, you never know what’s gonna work or what’s gonna stick. But now I’m working with a network that really understands me — and that’s special,” she says. “I feel seen. And I’m just getting started.”
Whether she’s in the courtroom cracking jokes or catching up on rest in her own sanctuary, Ms. Pat is living proof that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of authenticity. She’s rewriting the rules in real time — on her terms, in her voice, and for her people. As she continues to turn pain into purpose, laughter into legacy, and everyday mess into must-see TV, one thing’s clear: Ms. Pat is in her prime. And we’re lucky enough to watch it unfold.
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Feature image by Earl Gibson III/Shutterstock